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In Pakistan, Rally Protests Drone Strikes Thousands in Pakistan Protest American Drone Strikes
(about 4 hours later)
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Thousands of people gathered Saturday in the northwestern city Peshawar to protest American drone strikes inside Pakistani territory and vowed to stop NATO supply trucks unless the attacks stopped.ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Thousands of people gathered Saturday in the northwestern city Peshawar to protest American drone strikes inside Pakistani territory and vowed to stop NATO supply trucks unless the attacks stopped.
The protest rally was organized by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the political party of the opposition leader Imran Khan, an outspoken critic of American drone strikes and the Pakistani military’s presence in the country’s border areas, where Taliban and Al Qaeda militants have long found a haven.The protest rally was organized by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the political party of the opposition leader Imran Khan, an outspoken critic of American drone strikes and the Pakistani military’s presence in the country’s border areas, where Taliban and Al Qaeda militants have long found a haven.
Addressing a crowd of 10,000 to 13,000 flag-waving party workers and supporters from two allied political parties, Mr. Khan accused the United States of sabotaging peace talks with the Taliban. Addressing 10,000 to 13,000 flag-waving party workers and supporters from two allied political parties, Mr. Khan accused the United States of sabotaging peace talks with the Taliban. “There can be no peace unless drones are stopped,” he said.
“There can be no peace unless drones are stopped,” he said. Pakistani politicians denounce the attacks as a violation of the country’s sovereignty. Pakistani officials have regularly condemned the strikes in public while, in the past, endorsing them in private. But increasingly the drone campaign has strained relations between Pakistan and the United States.
Pakistani politicians from across the political spectrum denounce the drone attacks as a violation of the country’s sovereignty. Pakistani officials have regularly condemned the strikes in public while, in the past, endorsing them in private. But increasingly the drone campaign has strained relations between Pakistan and the United States.
The opposition against the American drone strikes reached its loudest pitch on Nov. 1, when a missile strike killed Hakimullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban.The opposition against the American drone strikes reached its loudest pitch on Nov. 1, when a missile strike killed Hakimullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban.
Mr. Khan and Nisar Ali Khan, the country’s interior minister, contended that the government had been about to enter into peace talks with the insurgents and that the killing had jeopardized the nascent peace process.Mr. Khan and Nisar Ali Khan, the country’s interior minister, contended that the government had been about to enter into peace talks with the insurgents and that the killing had jeopardized the nascent peace process.
On Saturday, Mr. Khan challenged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to stand up to the United States and vowed to press Washington to change its policy. “We will put pressure on America, and our protest will continue if drone attacks are not stopped,” he said.On Saturday, Mr. Khan challenged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to stand up to the United States and vowed to press Washington to change its policy. “We will put pressure on America, and our protest will continue if drone attacks are not stopped,” he said.
Still, the protest on Saturday was a largely symbolic event. NATO trucks do not operate on weekends, a fact acknowledged by Mr. Khan’s party officials. Still, the protest on Saturday was largely symbolic. NATO trucks do not operate on weekends.
Shireen Mazari, an official in Mr. Khan’s party, said party workers would begin stopping NATO trucks on Sunday in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province. But even if they do, supplies will continue through another route in Baluchistan Province. Shireen Mazari, an official in Mr. Khan’s party, said workers would begin stopping the trucks on Sunday in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province. If they do, supplies will continue through another route in Baluchistan Province.
A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban praised the protest, but Pervaiz Rashid, the Pakistani information minister, called it a farce.A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban praised the protest, but Pervaiz Rashid, the Pakistani information minister, called it a farce.
At a market in Peshawar near the protest site, some merchants said political leaders should concentrate on economic issues. At a market near the protest, some merchants said political leaders should focus on economic issues. “The provincial government has done nothing so far for the welfare of common people,” said Ajmal Khan, a shopkeeper.
“The provincial government has done nothing so far for the welfare of common people,” said Ajmal Khan, a shopkeeper.

Salman Masood reported from Islamabad, and Ihsanullah Tipu Mehsud from Peshawar, Pakistan.

Salman Masood reported from Islamabad, and Ihsanullah Tipu Mehsud from Peshawar, Pakistan.